Las Cruces Public Schools spokesman Damien Willis confirmed on Friday that Davis was placed on leave but declined any further comment related to personnel matters.

Jose Ramirez, a student in his senior year at Rio Grande Prep, told the Sun-News he was informed by a teacher at around 9 a.m., the beginning of the school's first class period, that Davis had been escorted from campus. He said he promptly left the classroom and approached the principal's office, observing that it had been "completely emptied out" and people he did not recognize were inspecting Davis's desk.

Ramirez also observed that three officers from the Mesilla Marshal's Department were on campus Friday morning, which he said was unusual, although officers do sometimes visit campus while on patrol.

A contingent of "about 50" students, according to Ramirez, walked out of school after learning that Davis had been removed with no explanation offered to students or staff. He said some students were discussing plans for potential protests or efforts to petition the district for an explanation.

Although he said Davis was close to students, Ramirez said he had not heard from her directly. In the meantime, he said two interim principals have reported to the school and would address students on Monday.

A woman describing herself as a student at Rio Grande Prep left a voice mail for a Sun-News reporter on Friday afternoon announcing plans for a "protest" at the district's administration building at 3 p.m. on Monday, September 10. She did not respond to return calls by press time.

Kathryn Davis is "an amazing principal who has gone above and beyond for all her students," Ramirez said. "I don't understand why they are doing this."